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Does anyone think how good-looking you are helps with getting a job?

So I just read a thread where it seemed someone got a job because they were very good looking, and so this got me wondering. Do you think a more attractive person is more likely to get a job? Especially in retail, in hotels, restaurants etc.

If so, do you think the same can be said for guys as can be for girls? Would a guy be more likely to get a job if he were unusually good looking?

And I have another unrelated question actually. When you are filling in an application for a form and have no real work experience, what do you put there? I mean, I have had 1 day work experience in a pub restaurant and 1 week in a reception, and always think this will seem strange to an employer haha

Reply 1

hasilegend

I would say it might be more true for girls but i doubt it happens very often.

Reply 2

Nouvelle vague

Oh I remember reading an article on the BBC that supported this but I can't goddaamn find it! It certainly helps and acts as an advantage with interviews and court etc.

Reply 3

WhereIsMyMind

IMO, it depends on the actual job, not necessarily the place of work.

If you are working in a hotel, then I doubt looks are going to be important for a cleaning position? However, if you're working on the bar etc, then I guess looks could play a part in the decision.

I guess it depends on your views as a consumer too? If you were in the bar, what would you prefer to look at, a rather decent looking person or a not-so nice person? If you're going for the nice looking person - then ultimately you need to factor that into when applying for the vacancy as you know that consumers look for a little eye-candy. However, if you really aren't fussed, then I guess your opinion would be the opposite.

I think the same can be said for males too. I wouldn't want a scrubby-looking (no offence) guy acting as a waiter - and because of that, the company obviously needs to hire someone that isn't scrubby looking? However, you also need to factor in the person who will be conducting the recruitment. 'One mans junk is another mans treasure'.

Unfortunately, it's the way it is. Some roles and positions require the 'beauty' and others require the 'brains'.

I would put down your work experience (even if it's a day). If the placement was only for a day, then there is no harm done. If however, it was for a week, and you left after the day, then you need to consider that may hinder your application.

Don't most applications have like a little box where you right what you gained? If so, you could use that to your advantage? 'In just one day, I was able to grasp the tasks and fulfil the requirements of the role etc', to me that would seem as if you are an incredibly fast learner and to me, as an employer, I would happily employ you on the understanding that with little or no training, you could be extremely sufficient?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE REP - WHICH HAS NO BEARING ON THE POST IN QUESTION, THEN AT LEAST LEAVE YOUR NAME! FOOL!

Reply 4

Deano88

Yer for certain jobs, being attractive would definitely help.

Definitely.

Yeah, like it or not, looks matter even when people say and honestly believe that they don't take them into account unfortunately it will still have an effect of the overall impression applicants create in the interview. People who are more attractive, particularly with a symetrical face and the right hip to waist ratio (supposedly because these are subconscious indicators of health and reliable genes) are regularly judged as more intelligent and more reliable than those who are not judged to have such qualities. Other aspects of appearance have these kind of influences, e.g. most people will judge people wearing glasses to be more intelligent than those who don't. For an oversimplified example, look at Susan Boyle, hardly a swimsuit model in the waiting and when it turned out she was actually talented, people were astonished because its didn't match with the expectations linked to her appearance.

Thankfully the affect this has on employer's decisions is generally small, particularly where skill and previous experience is more important, but even the people who do the research to prove all this stuff can't help but have the same bias (albeit to a small extent)

Reply 7

Iron Mask Duval

The only place I have noticed it is pubs tbh.
People behind the bar always tend to be attractive young girls, especially in proper old man pubs.
Guess it's a way of drawing people in.

Reply 8

Surfers_Paradise*09*

You can tell they employ good looking guys in Topman/H&M and Starbucks but theyre really the only places that stick out as being attractive people

Reply 9

obessedwithu&rockmusic

only if the boss is a DUDE
:rolleyes:

Reply 10

elldee

Topshop and Topman, we cannot deny that they pick their staff young, good looking, most often middle class and well dressed.

definitely!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_effect

Yes.

Reply 13

cpj1987

With regards to the title of the thread, it'll depend (as others have said) on the individual employer and on the job.
For example, I had a friend in my first year of university who ended up in tears after a job interview for a waitress position at a Japanese restaurant. She was told, as she left the interview, not to expect a call because 'the main focus of the restaurant is to have attractive staff, and many are better than you for that role'. Discriminatory, and devastating for her.
Alternately, I've never had a problem getting a job despite being below average in my looks - I'm considered to have the personality and experience needed. Not that, of course, I've ever applied to work anywhere similar to the aforementioned restaurant.